Vapor-supply means for internal-combustion engines



June 24, 1930. c, s H I 1,766,363

VAPOR SUPPLY MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 19, 1928Inventor Patented June 24, 1930 CHRISTIAN L. SMITH, F AKRON, OHIO,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VICTOR J.

ROBINSON, 0F AKRON, OHIO VAPOR-SUPPLY MEANS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTIONENGINES Application filed November 19, 1928. Serial No. 320,451.

My invention relates to a device for association with the manifold of aninternal combustion engine and refers more particu larly to anattachment for supplying moist air or vapor from the radiator to themanifold.

It is a known fact that an internal combustion engine operates moreefiiciently when the air is laden with moisture, indicating that themixture of gas and moistened air is the proper mixture for the mostperfect combustion.

To this end I provide an attachment associated with a manifold of aninternal combustion engine above the carbureter and means for operatingsaid device when the engine is accelerated thereby, and producing theproper amount of moisture and bringing about a perfect mixture in themanifold,

99 resulting in a saving of gas, quicker acceleration, increases itsspark, and smoother operation of motor.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a novel arrangementof parts within a casing having positive action to bring about theresults tabulated above in a very eflicient manner.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course ofthe following description of the preferred embodiment of my device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine showing mydevice ap- 33 plied to the manifold thereof,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of my attachment, and

Figure 3 is a detailed section of the trap.

Referring to the drawings numeral 10 4o designates an automobile engineof conventional type. The engine 10 is provided with a usual intakemanifold 11 having an L-shaped coupling 12 in direct association withsaid intake manifold 11.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, my

invention consists of a hollow body 13, having a screw threaded nipple14 at its upper end for engagement with said L-shaped coupling 12 and atits lower extremity in 5 screw threaded relation as at 15 a sleeve 16.

The sleeve 16 affords a guide for the plunger 17, normally urged upwardby coil springs 18, said spring hearing at its opposite ends against ashoulder 19 in the sleeve 16 and an abutment 20 on said plunger 17.Disposed within the nipple 1d and complementary to a valve seat 21within said nipple 14 is a needle valve 22, tapered to provide properfitting within the valve seat 21, said needle valve disposed at theupper 0 extremity of said plunger 17 and operable through the valve seat21.

At the side of the body 13 is an inlet port 23, to which by a union 24is attached one end of a conduit 25, the opposite end of whichis locatedin the filling spout of the automobile radiator 26.

At the lower end of the plunger 17 is a socket 27 adapted to receive anadjustingv screw 28 and held in rigid position within said plunger bymeans of a lock nut 29.

A connecting member 30 is suitably secured to the head of'the adjustingscrew 28 and is adapted to be connected with the butterfly valve 31 ofthe carbureter. f,

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that when theplunger 28 is drawn downwardly within the body 13 by suitable meansconnected to the throttle valve, moisture laden air from the radiator isintroduced into said body and while the plunger remains in thisposition, the un seating of the needle valve 22 within the nipple 14will permit the moisture laden air to pass through said nipple andbecome a part of the gaseous mixture within the manifold 11.

Conversely, whenthe plunger 17 is not depressed, the coil spring 18 willforce the needle valve to become seated and stop the flow of themoisture laden air to the intake manifold. r

I have therefore provided a device wherein the relative proportions ofthe moisture laden air and the explosive mixture can be positivelyregulated for the most perfect mixture by the proper placement of saidadjusting screw within said plunger and the flow of vapor definitely cutoff by the seating of the needle valve within the nipple 14:.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention a trap 32 is provided inassociation with the arcuate 25 between the intake manifold 11 and theautomobile radiator 26', said trap 32 consisting of a chamber 33 havingopenings on opposite sides of the chamber 33 to receive the dependingends 34L of the conduit 25. In the operation of my device it will beseen that said trap 32 prevents the condensation from reaching theintake manifold 11 but permits the vapor to freely pass through theconduit 25 to the said intake manifold 11.

It will be obvious also, that I have devised an attachment for aninternal combustion engine which is exceedingly simple in construction,controlled by the driver and in such manner that the degree ofacceleration predetermines the amount of moisture laden air for theproper charge with respect to the gaseous mixture in the manifold of anautomobile.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in theconstruction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts, providedsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is: A

In a water vapor supply means for an internal combustion engine, whereinthe engine includes a radiator and a carbureter; a hollow body having aninlet port, and an outlet port, the outlet port being provided with avalve seat, a sleeve connected to and depending from the lower end ofsaid hollow body directly below and in longitudinal alignment with theoutlet port, a pipe for establishing connection between the radiator andthe inlet port, a plunger disposed longitudinally within said hollowbody and sleeve and depending below the same, a needle Valve at theupper end of said plunger for said seat, a coil spring urging saidneedle valve on its seat, and an adjusting screw carried by the lowerextremity of said plunger, and a connecting member from said adjustingscrew to the butterfly valve of the carburetor to cause a downward pullon the plunger and needle valve to unseat the same to admit vapor fromthe radiator and the inlet port to the outlet port and the intakemanifold.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHRISTIAN L. SMITH.

